What are the rights and responsibilities of the sick role that Alexander Segall identified? Briefly discuss the nature of these rights and responsibilities and give some examples of situations in reality that conflict with them.

A. The right to make decisions about issues related to health
1. Children and many impoverished people are unable to make such decisions. This makes the concept of this right more of an ideal than a realistic goal.
B. The right to be excused from performing normal everyday duties when sick
1. Examples include going to work, school, and/or meetings; cooking, cleaning, child care, homework, yard work, etc.
2. This exemption is also unrealistic for many people. For instance, people may continue going to work when sick if they fear losing their jobs, or if they value and enjoy their jobs and co-workers. Parents may need to continue caring for their children.
C. The right to become dependent upon other people for help when sick
1. This can be unrealistic, similarly to the right to be excused from normal duties. Parents often must not only continue to care for children rather than being exempt; their parental responsibilities also prevent them from being dependent.
D. The responsibility to get well and to maintain one's health
1. People with chronic diseases cannot fulfill this duty, as their conditions last a lifetime and they will never get well entirely. Many people with chronic illnesses experience conflict when they think their diseases are temporary, finding it difficult to accept the idea that they have ongoing disability.
E. The responsibility to perform routine health care management
1. This, like the other two responsibilities, relates to the duty to try to get well.
2. Like getting completely well, this does not apply to those with chronic diseases.
3. Infants, young children, and incapacitated patients are unable to fulfill this responsibility.
F. The responsibility to utilize a range of health care resources
1. This is also in the interest of the duty to pursue wellness.
2. Like performing routine health care management, this does not apply to patients (infants, young children, patients who are physically and/or mentally incapacitated) who lack the capacity to utilize health care resources.